Factors affecting adoption of watershed management program in Mirab-Abaya Districts of Southern Ethiopia.

Abstract Land degradation is an important issue because of its adverse impact on agronomic productivity, the environment and its effect on food security and quality of life. The study was conducted in Achekore sub watershed of adopters and Layotirga sub watershed non-adopters of Mirab-Abaya district. The major objectives of the study was to investigate the factors affecting the adoption of watershed program. The study used random sampling techniques and selected 334 total sample size, and analyzed using econometric model called binary logistic model. The findings revealed that among the hypothesized explanatory variables included in the model, land size and land tenure were found affecting the dependent variable at 5% significant level, whereas age, gender, family size, participation in nonfarm activity, distance and slope variables influencing at 1% significant level. Moreover, Education and extension contact variables was found not significant to adoption of watershed management technologies. It is concluded that the watershed management practice is adopted by the community as it plays a significant role to enhance household’s livelihood, ecosystem balance and cope with climate change impacts.